Editors' Letter- Box. eg 



J. C, Springfield, Mass. — Had I better lay down my grapes in winter ? I 

 have covered tiiem for several years, as I did my raspberries, but have not been 

 able to see any good results. 



We should advise our friend to lay down the most tender varieties, such as 

 the Allen's Hybrid, Adirondac, Rebecca, and others that are equally tender ; 

 but leave up the Concord, and others that are equally hardy. Sometimes we 

 think there may be great advantage derived from thus covering in winter ; while, 

 in some seasons, no good, and possibly positive harm, results from such a 

 course. 



Wardian Case, Newburyport, Mass. — There is no American work on 

 ferns ; but many publislied in England include most of our species. 



One of the best is Lowe's " Ferns," eight volumes octavo, with many hun- 

 dred colored plates, and one volume supplement, " New Ferns." Hooker has 

 published some elegant works on ferns, which can be imported. John Smith, 

 ex-curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in 1866 published a volume of 

 about four hundred pages, called "Ferns, British and Foreign," which is a very 

 useful handbook. The fronds you enclose are, — i. Pteris Crctica albo lineata. 

 2. Asplefiium ebenetun. 3. Platy cerium akicorne. 4. Gyvinogramma Peru- 

 viana. 



Robert Bell, Baltimore. — We think it most likely that all of Jackman's 

 new clematis would prove hardy witli you ; or, at the most, only require to be 

 covered with earth in the winter. Mr. Jackman's plan of cultivation is (as we 

 learn from a recent English paper) to cut the plant down to the ground in early 

 spring, which causes the production of vigorous shoots, which are covered with 

 bloom in the latter months of summer. The two best known of Mr. Jackman's 

 seedlings are C. riibro violacea and Jackmani. Most of these seedlings flower 

 profusely on the new wood, and thus require a difterent mode of culture from 

 Clematis azicrea grandijlora, Sophia., Helene, and moiitanu. 



Adam's Needle, Burlington, Vt. — The only yucca which is perfectly 

 hardy in New England is Y.Jilamcntosa, — the one you have, as we judge from 

 the leaf sent. There are many others, some very beautiful plants, which may 

 prove hardy, and on which we shall report after another winter's trial. There is 

 a variegated variety of Y. Jilame7itosa, which is very beautiful, but somewhat 

 rare. 



A Subscriber, Boston. — The name " carrion-flower " is applied to various 

 species oi Stapelia ; but the plant you describe \s Smilax herbacea,\.o^\\\c\\ 

 this name is given from the fetid odor of the flowers. The plant itself is very 

 pretty, as are all of the Smilax family ; but the odor, when in bloom, is dis- 

 gusting. 



A. M., Worcester. — Your seedling camellia is very good, but not sufl5- 

 ciently distinct from other whites to merit special notice. 



